Key Developments Leading to World War II in Europe
Several key developments contributed to the outbreak of World War II in Europe.
Acts of Aggression by Italy and Germany
Italy and Germany engaged in a series of aggressive actions targeting weaker states in Africa and Europe.
The Western democracies and the League of Nations failed to adequately respond to these acts, allowing tensions to escalate.
Western Democracies' Slow Response
The Western democracies were slow to confront Hitler during the 1930s for several reasons:
- War Fatigue: There was widespread exhaustion from the First World War, leading to a reluctance to engage in another conflict.
- Perceptions of Reasonableness: Many, especially in Britain, believed some of Hitler's demands were reasonable and did not pose an immediate threat.
- Strategic Considerations: There was a desire among some leaders to have a strong and rebuilt Germany as a counterbalance against the communist threat from the Soviet Union.
Key Events within Europe
The Munich Conference (1938)
Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler met at the Munich Conference, where Hitler pressed for territorial concessions from Czechoslovakia.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and others mistakenly believed that appeasing Hitler would prevent war. Chamberlain notably declared, "I believe it is peace for our time."
The Munich Agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for Hitler's promise of no further territorial demands.
This act of appeasement led to significant criticism post-war and defined the term "appeasement."
The Occupation of Czechoslovakia
After gaining the Sudetenland, Germany proceeded to occupy the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, severely violating the Munich Agreement.
The German-Soviet Pact
The Molotov-von Ribbentrop Pact was signed in August 1939, a mutual non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. This agreement assured that neither country would attack the other, and it effectively divided territories in Eastern Europe between them.
Prelude to War in Asia
In the 1930s, Japan's conflict in the Pacific intensified, particularly against China and eventually the United States.
Japan, having modernized in the late 1800s, sought to expand its colonial empire in East Asia, specifically looking to control resources in China.
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
The Mukden Incident in 1931 marked the beginning of Japanese expansion into Manchuria, rich in natural resources, viewed as crucial for Japan’s economic and military growth.
Full-Scale Invasion of China (1937)
In 1937, Japan launched a comprehensive invasion of Nationalist China, quickly capturing significant territories. However, China's government resisted and relocated its capital to Chongqing.
U.S. Economic Responses to Japanese Aggression
The U.S. adopted an approach focusing on economic sanctions rather than military intervention to curb Japanese expansionism.
Initial sanctions included an embargo on exports of iron, scrap steel, and high-octane aviation gasoline, ultimately expanding to a total embargo on petroleum products in the summer of 1941.
Strategic Resource Areas Mapping
The Japanese military referred to the Asian colonies of European countries as the “Southern Resource Area,” which included significant resources such as oil from the Dutch East Indies and rubber from British Malaya.
Vocabulary Terms
Anschluss: The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938.
Munich Pact: The agreement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland.
Molotov-von Ribbentrop Pact: A non-aggression agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union prior to World War II.
Manchurian Incident: The invasion of Manchuria by Japan in 1931, used as a pretext for further military aggression in China.